I was given a rifle that my step-grandfather owned and used and I am trying to figure out a little of the history. My dad was acutally given the rifle, he never used it and has no idea about it. He even asked me what caliber it was.

I know it's an 8mm; I was wondering if any of you could provide a little more detail for me. I know it was made in Sweden and I'm pretty sure it's the .323 caliber.

1: Top of barrel is Stamped 8x57 S
2: Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori
3: Barrel has SN: MB 70241 (the 2 looks like a 9 & 2 combined also kinda weird)
4: following the SN there is a stamp with a " C with a K stamped inside the C, followed by 11/63 followed by a stamp of C with a S inside the C"
5: Has a hooded front sight

I'd like to reload for this and its in great shape and very solid. I appreciate any help you may be able to provide. I'm also going to keep looking online and see if I can find out more.

I believe you have an 8x57 Mauser target rifle - The CG-63 - introduced on May 1, 1963 by the Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori. (CG)

During the production period CG made up around 60,000 target rifles.
Almost all used existing M-96 rifle or M-94 carbine actions which were inspected to make sure they were super straight. Although some Husqvarna actions have also been used.

AFAIK, The standard CG-63 barrel was a free-floated heavy barrel which measures 19.0mm at the action, tapering to 17.5 mm at the muzzle.

The rifling twist rate for most CG-63s is 1:220mm. (the M96, M38, & M94 all had a 1:200mm twist rate)

The CG-63s were also made in military versions called the M6 and M7 - but w/o a pic or a more complete description - IDK which you have.

The standard target ammunition for the CG-63s was originally a 140gr Boatail bullet with a muzzle velocity of about 2,600 fps.

Some CG-63s have glass bedded actions and some have steel stock inserts.

The first CG-63 sights were Carl Gustafs GF micrometer receiver sights with a 2mm aperture.

The WW1 era 7.92X57S used a 154 grain bullet at around 2800+ fps.
The WW2 era 7.92X57 standard ball cartridge used a 196 gr bullet.
The heavier bullet gave better penetration of obstacles and better energy at longer ranges. I think they were mainly interested in a cartridge suited to the MG34 LMG with infantry rifle use secondary.
Early in WW2 German Infantry were issued one five round stripper clip of Tungsten Carbide core AP ammo, for use if pinned down by allied AFVs.

Quote:

The standard target ammunition for the CG-63s was originally a 140gr Boatail bullet with a muzzle velocity of about 2,600 fps.

A similarly downloaded .30-06 cartridge was used by some South American police armed with the short barreled .30-06 Mauser Police Carbines. The muzzle blast and recoil of the full house .30-06 from an 18 in barrel being too much for police work.
Balistics were similar to the .30-30.
These same downloaded .30-06 cartridges were also used at military or police academies for target shooting with the full length service rifles on 200 yard ranges.

To answer the original question, that rifle was made for a cartridge identical to the German 7.9sS, aka the 8x57JS, with the .323" bullet diameter. U.S. factory ammo will work OK, but is somewhat underpowered. There is a large supply of milsurp ammo in that caliber, but some has corrosive primers.

All I can offer that says differently is an assertion of my personal possession of a factory CG63 in .308.
Since I traded the rifle off some years ago and my records were lost in a house fire, I cannot show you documentary proof.

Thanks.
The Wiki reference you mentioned does include .308, but I'm still not convinced on the 8mm Mauser chambering...which is what the OP originally asked about.
Without pics, there's no way to know.

Many m/1894 carbines and m/1896 rifles were successfully converted by Carl Gustafs and Norma into the CG 63 Competition Rifle chambered in 6.5x55mm and 7.62x51mm NATO. These rifles are known to be very accurate, with heavy free-floating barrels, diopter sights (many models), target stocks and tuned triggers.

Natch, anyone could put an 8mm Mauser chambered barrel on one, my question is whether that was actually done by Gustaf's, as a "factory" CG-63 build.

not common but not uncommon calibre here, getting a sorta renaisence here due to more hogs and bears and people want something with a bit more umph

I think my pops got one in the back of the safe but it is my mums and she hasn't fired it since the 80s or so

never heard about target rifles in the calibre thou, the 6.5 reigned /reign supreme in practically all different target sports here, gun smiths made 6.5 barrels in all sorts of rifles that didn't have it as standard, every other rem7600/760 I look at has got a 6.5 barrel to.

what my father thought me is to let the recoil (small in a 6.5 so not much to work with but still) let the barrel rise up it gives you a better angle to clsoe it quick, IMO better then to take it down from your shoulder

also remember that these old recievers aren't made for todays hotter loads, and the 96 mechanism hasn't got the best reputation for when it actually breaks

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